Trump’s deliberate lies were heinous. I won’t support those who blindly support him.

What the president did was heinous

Wednesday’s news about the president knowing how serious coronavirus was in January, downplaying it and deliberately lying to all of us is beyond forgivable.

He says he did this so we would not panic. Americans are not a bunch of sheep who panic at a loud sound. How many tens of thousands of lives could have been saved if we had known the truth in January?

Every single member of Congress who is not loudly speaking out against these deliberate lies to us is complicit in this heinous act and should absolutely not be re-elected. We deserve to know the names of those who want to remain silent about this or continue to blindly support this president. I want to see that list published now!

Marilyn Smith, Matthews

Don’t leave NC open to harmful oil spills

Regarding “NC excluded from Trump moratorium on offshore drilling,” (Sept. 10):

Our greedy commander in grief and his cronies are putting new meaning to the term “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

Off the coast of North Carolina is where two of the greatest life-giving ocean currents meet. The Gulf Stream flows at a 5 mph pace at all times and is arguably the world’s greatest fishery. In 24 hours the water there will have flowed 120 miles.

If we drill, drill, drill there is the danger of our own Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A spill like that in N.C. would impact millions. This must not happen. Vote out all who support this inexcusable executive order.

Jack Bennett, Mooresville

Let Obamacare stand, work to improve it

We are on course for an insurance apocalypse. No health insurance actuary ever configured rates with a pandemic. There are residuals from COVID-19 with long-term conditions such as heart, lung, eye, brain and other post-viral issues as yet to be identified.

The number of people carrying a preexisting condition from COVID-19 will be in the millions. Assuming Obamacare stands, no one with a post-COVID-19 condition can be turned down, but their insurance premium will jump to unaffordable numbers. A small company may see a premium spike of 25% and will need to pass on the increase to employees or not offer coverage at all.

There has been an assault on Obamacare. We need to call a ceasefire and ensure that it stands, is fixed, broadened and improved.

Joel Schaffer, Indian Land

Abortion isn’t a yes/no issue

I want to thank Justin Perry for putting words to things I have been struggling to say for many years. (Sept. 8 Opinion) Being pro-choice is not being anti-life, it is also pro-life. The abortion issue is complex and cannot be boiled down to a simple yes/no response.

A woman must make this terrible decision for herself because it’s not just birth we are talking about. It is a whole long life and what quality and care that life can have.

If we want to reduce abortions, we must increase support for birth control, women’s health, and for the social fabric that supports families. Perry said it all clearly and completely.

Mary Powers, Waxhaw

Show police respect, obey orders

Regarding John Huey’s “A pimento cheese giant’s hateful, revealing rant,” (Sept. 8 Opinion):

In criticizing a Facebook post by Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry, op-ed writer John Huey stated that Black Lives Matter focuses on police accountability. The way I see it, BLM incites protests that turn violent, resulting in rioting, looting and harmful acts on all sides.

Wrongful police actions could be avoided by respect and obedience. That’s where accountability starts, resides and ends.

Henry’s Palmetto Cheese remains my preferred brand.

Karen Reynolds, Charlotte

Not fooled by Tillis’ sneaky TV ad

Sen. Thom Tillis’ latest TV ad claims his opponent is planning a “sneaky” tax increase.

What is sneakier than all the Republican tax “cuts” which have primarily benefited the wealthy in the short term but which have burdened all of us with an increasing level of debt that has to be reckoned with in the long term?

Republicans harp on the debt when a Democrat is president, but say not a word about it when they are the ones driving the wagon over the cliff.

Thomas Strini, Spencer

2020 election: Don’t skip voting

Voting is a right, a privilege and a patriotic responsibility that generations of Americans have fought and died for.

Sadly, there are those among us who choose to not vote because they don’t like the candidates. They seem to not understand that one of these candidates will win the election.

The very least they should do is to vote for the least distasteful candidate. Their vote makes a difference.

Please everyone vote!

Edward Ihnot, Charlotte

This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 3:04 PM.